Improvement in steam-traps



C. SCHMANDT.

Improvement `in Steam-T raps.

No. 132,372. Patented oct. 22,1872.

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oHARLEs soi-IMANDT, 0E BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,372, dated October 2:2, 187:2.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES ScnMANDT, of the cityof Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Steam- Traps, of which the following is a specification; and I do hereby declare that the same is a full, clear, and exact description ot' my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters-ot' reference marked thereon.

My invention relates toan apparatus coinnionly known as a steam-trap, adapted to the uninterrupted drainage of the water arising' from the condensation of steam from pipes, steam-chambers, and the like; vand consists of the devices hereinafter explained and shown in the several ligures or" the drawing hereto annexed, forming a part ot this specification.

Figure lis a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view oi the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the valve forming the center of the oscilla-ting parts. Fig. 4 is a back view of the bonnet covering the valve. Fig. 5 is a front view of the parts covered by said bonnet, the bonnet being removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts of the invention in all the figures.

A is a pipe, to be attached to that pipe or steam-chamber from which the water of condensation is to be drained. C is the upper neck ofthe body of the valve, into which the pipe A is inserted. IB is the waste-water or outlet pipe, connecting with the lower neck C of the body of the valve. That part Gr of the body of the valve forms a diskal-seat or faceplate for the valve proper H. The valve H has a tubular stem or center, H', passing through the body ot the valve, and packed steam-tight by means of the stutling-box and screw-cap h. The stemorcenter H is divided .by the partition piece h intersecting its area,

and running longitudinally through the stem from the face of the valve to the end of the stem. It will be seen that the space in that part of the stem and valve above the intersecting piece .71. connects by the -openings aand a with the interior ofthe neck U and the pipe A, and also that the corresponding space below the intersecting piece h connects, by the openings b and b' when they are brought together, with the interior of the neck G and pipe B.

seat by tap bolts.

G is the bonnet covering the diskal-seator face-plate and valve H, and is secured to the D is a receiver, attached to the stein H', the use or which receiver, together with that of the lever F and weight E, is hereinafter explained.

To describe more fully the operation of the trap I will suppose, iirst, the pipe A to be attached to a pipe or steam-chamber from which it is desired to remove the water of condensation, and that the respective parts of the apparatus occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 1. An open communication is always had through the openings a a', and the water descending through the pipeA at once passesinto the space existing within the valve and stem above the intersecting pieces h h, and thence into the receiver D, following the course indicated by the arrows in full lines. rising within the receiver is forced, by the press'- ure of steam, up the pipe d, attached to the inside ot the receiver. As the receiver is iillin g the air is allowed to escape through the space h and opening d', thence between the back .of thevalve H and the bonnet G through the aperture d into the pipe B. During this time the openings b b are closed. These openings are shown herein asonly two in number, but they may be increased in number, or a single opening be used, as preferred. A- sufficient weight of water having passed into the receiver to overcome the Weight of the ball E upon the lever F, having its i'ulcrum at f upon the pipe A, the receiver falls, and a communication is made through the openings b and bf, thus brought together, through which the water liows into the pipe B, its velocity being, ol" course, greatly accelerated ,by the pressure of steam. As soon as the weight ofthe receiver is lessened so as to admit ofthe return of the counter-balance to the position in which it is shown in Fig. l, the openings b are again closed. The stop g upon the back ofthe valve acts inconjunction with those g upon the bonnet, to prevent the too great lateral movement of the oscillating parts.

It will be seen that, as the opening a is never closed, the water of condensation is always being carried away from the pipes to which the trap is attached. By the action of the counter-balance E, all communication is closed between the pipes A and B when no water of The water v ,in sufficient quantity to be of e ii :52,372

condensation remains to be carried oir, the receiver then being chieiiy occupied by steam. As soon,.however, as the water has collected such weight as is required to cause the receiver to fall from the position in which it is indicated by Fig. 1, the water therein is almost instantly discharged by the pressure of steam above. The communication between the pipes A and B is then immediately closed again bythe fall of the counter-balance E.

A glass water-gage is shown by 7c, attached to the receiver, by means of which gage the condition and height of the water within the receiver can be conveniently discovered.

The annular space c and the outlet c' are intended to receive and carry into the pipe B whatever leakage oi" water passes between the valve and seat.

Although I have, in the severi l il gures of the drawing annexed, shown my invention in the shape and order in which I preferably use it and in which it is now in successful operation, I might show many modifications of the same.

For instance, the receiver and lever and counter-balance may occupy different positions with reference to each other and the valve; and the shape of the valve itself and its connecting parts might beso disguised as to scarcely resemble those herein shown, without changing in the least the principles therein involved, or accomplishing any new result whatever.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A steam-trap having between the pipe A and a receiver attached to the stem ofthe valve a constantly open channel, substantially as shown by a a', and a variable communication between the valve and pipe B, substantially as provided for by b b', the said apertures b b adapted to be opened and closed by the acting and counteraeting of the weight of the water passing into the receiver, and that of a bail upon a lever connected with said receiver, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.

2. In the valve II, the tubular intersected stein H', stop g, aperture d', and annular groove c, arranged substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

3. The body otl the valve having the aperture d' and annular groove c, in combination with the bonnet G and stops g', arranged substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.

4. In the receiver I), the combination of the intersecting piece h, pipe d, and gage 7c, substantially as and for the purposes herein specitied.

CHARLES SCIIMANDT.

Witnesses:

Gno. H. HOWARD, G. E. SANGs'roN. 

